Yangju City Promotes "Global Talk-Talk" Online International Class for Elementary and Middle School Students with Fujieda City, Japan

Yangju City in Gyeonggi Province is actively promoting the online international joint class program, "Global Talk-Talk," in collaboration with Fujieda City, its international exchange partner in Japan. The program involves elementary and middle school students from both countries.

Panoramic view of Yangju City Hall. Provided by Yangju City.

This initiative is part of Yangju City's pilot project for the Special Educational Development Zone. It aims to enhance students' global communication skills and foster global citizenship through digital-based international exchanges. Students from both countries will participate in joint classes using Korean, English, and Japanese, engaging in real-time video lessons as well as asynchronous content exchanges.

"Global Talk-Talk" consists of an intensive English camp during the winter vacation to prepare students for the international joint class, as well as online international joint classes linked to the regular curriculum, clubs, and after-school activities.

In particular, the preliminary English camp is designed to boost students' confidence in communication. Following this, the international joint class will include activities such as self-introductions, presentations about their schools and communities, sharing youth culture, and project-based lessons on global issues like climate and the environment.

Depending on each school's circumstances, the online international joint classes will be conducted through both real-time video conferencing and asynchronous methods such as video exchanges, card news, and culture box swaps. The classes focus on student-centered participation and joint project-based learning (PBL) activities, providing students with meaningful international exchange experiences.

Through this initiative, Yangju City aims to establish a sustainable and regularly operated model for youth international exchange, moving beyond one-off interactions. The city plans to support local students in enjoying everyday learning experiences that connect them with the world.

A Yangju City official stated, "Global Talk-Talk is a new educational approach that brings the world into the classroom," adding, "Through cooperation with our international exchange city, Fujieda, we will actively support Yangju students in developing the global competencies needed for the future society."